Automotive structure for revolving stands

ABSTRACT

A rotary stand comprises an annular track, an annular rotor revolvably mounted on said track including an armature ring cooperative with at least one inductor fixed relative to said track, said rotor having attached thereto carriages movably supported on an annular runway concentrically surrounding said track.

[ Feb. 12, 1974 United States Patent Lefebvre 4 AUTOMOTIVE STRUCTURE FOR [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS REVOLVING STANDS [75] Inventor: Pierre Albert Lefebvre,

644,003 2/1900 Cook et a]. 198/209 2,151,174 3/1939 Winter...................,..... 310/268 UX Sille-le-Guillaume, France [73] Assignee: G.M.T. S.A., Le Mans, France 22 Filed: Nov. 9, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 197,041

, [57 ABSTRACT A rotary stand comprises an annular track, an annular [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 9, 1970 France.........v..................... 7040208 rotor revolvably mounted on said track including an armature ring cooperative with at least one inductor fixed relative to said track, said rotorhaving attached 72 W60 2/ B n m 8 1 OW Hmm 9 6 65m 119 /6 u 0 U 1 3 H L L C C S L U m U U 5 5 thereto carriages movably supported on an annular runway concentrically surrounding said track.

[58] Field of Search... 198/19, 209; 269/57; 51/108, 51/134, 237 T; 310/67, 91, 105, 166, 182,

197, 267, 268 13 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures a J E PAIENIEUFEB 1 2 m4 MEN 1 [If 2;

AUTOMOTIVE STRUCTURE FOR REVOLVING STANDS BACKGROUND. OF THE INVENTION Revolving stands for moving workpieces to a selected series of work stations, as presently known, comprise a circular table or a frame having arms delimiting a plate, and such table or frame is rotatively driven by a central shaft or an annular rack engaged with a driving gear. These well known structures, utilized in many industries, cannot readily be adapted to very large diameter revolving stands, for example with a diameter greater than 10 meters. because they would involve very heavy constructions, difficult to produce and operate, and thus very expensive. On the other hand, because of the circular shape of the known revolving stands, it is compulsory to provide the frames, supporting the working stations, in the shape of a swanneck or T.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a new structure enabling the construction of revolving stands of any size,

using light materials and providing for working stations within the very inner section of the revolving stand. According to the invention, the automotive structure for revolving stands includes a fixed annular track, an annular rotor movably supported by wheels and rollers engaging said track, said rotor including a conductor ring forming an armature which is placed in parallel withat least one inductor set fixed in the vicinity of said track, and carriages coupled to and extending radially from said rotor, said carriages being movably supported by wheels engaging a fixed runway disposed concentrically of the rotor and track.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The automotive structure forming a rotary or revolving stand comprises an annular runway or track 1, preferably of L section as shown in FIG. 2. The track 1 can be set directly on the ground or can be supported above the ground by spaced posts 2 or setup any other way depending on the particular type of machine. The track 1 supports a rotor 3 comprising an annular frame 4 (FIG. 2) to which is fixed a metallic continuous ring 5, for example composed of two superimposed components, one component of steel and the other of copper. The frame 4, when continuous, preferably is composed of channel iron, leaving the area bounded by the rotor 3 and the ring 5 entirely free.

At spaced points, the frame 4 is provided with brackets 6 supporting said frame on wheels 7 running on the track I, and with centering rollers 8 disposed at right angles with the wheels 7 and bearing against the upstanding flange of the track 1. The number of wheels 7 and rollers 8 depends on the diameter of frame 4 and on the loads that said frame may have to support. However, the minimal number of each set of wheels 7 and rollers 8 is three, to ensure steadiness to the rotor 3.

The frame 4 also includes, at spaced points, coupling components 9, for example constituted by fork joints, to which are connected arms 10 of carriages l1 supported by wheels 12 resting on an annular runway 13 which concentrically surrounds in spaced relation the track 1.

In the example shown, the runway 13 comprises a planar ring supported by spaced posts 14 but this runway also can be directly mounted on the ground and may also comprise an undulatory ring whereby the carriages 11 may rise and fall, if ncessary, for example to lift or lower them at selected stations. To control and effect rotation of the rotor 3, and consequently the driving of carriages 11 fixed thereto, at least one electromagnetic inductor 15 is disposed in fixed position beneath the rotor 3, specifically, beneath ring 5. The inductor 16 is, for example, supported by a bracket 16 on a post 2.

The inductor 15 is disposed in cooperative relation with ring 5, which thus constitutes the rotary armature or rotor of an electric motor. As a result of the relative arrangement of the armature 5 and inductor 15, changes in rotor diameter due for example to expansion phenoma, have no effect on the gap therebetween. The number of fixed inductors l5 depends on the rotor size and on the power supplying the rotor to drive and alternately slow down the carriages 11 that it has to move.

The foregoing structure leaves entirely free the area encompassed by rotor frame 4, and the diameter thereof can be of any size, thereby enabling construction of revolving stands of very large size and easily adaptable for various processing operations. This rotor can be coupled with any number of carriages 11 which can be made as desired concerning both their shape and size. For example, as shown in the drawings, it is possible to place a cross-beam 17 for holding working tools 18, supported by posts 19 disposed within the area surrounded by the rotor with no inconvenience for the operation. As shown in FIG. 2, tools 20 easily can be placed beneath the runway 13, thus adapting the automotive structure for many applications in which it is necessary to successively bring workpieces to different work stations which can be of a complex nature.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown and described in detail, but various modifications thereof can moreover be applied to it without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A rotary stand comprising:

a circular track;

an electromagnet inductor disposed in fixed relation to said track;

a circular rotor rotatably mounted on said track;

radially disposed means on said rotor for moving workpieces through a circular path, and

an electrical conductor ring fixed with said rotor and disposed to constitute an armature for said inductor to rotate said motor.

2. A rotary stand according to claim 1, comprising:

an annular runway disposed concentrically around said track, and

carriages for workpieces revolvably mounted on said runway and connected with said radially disposed means.

3. A rotary stand according to claim 1, wherein:

said track and said rotor are annular so that the surrounded area is free of obstructions.

4. A rotary stand according to claim 3, comprising:

an annular-runway disposed concentrically around said track, and

carriages for workpieces revolvably mounted on said runway and connected with said radially disposed means.

5. A rotary stand according to claim 4, wherein said runway is planar.

6. A rotary stand according to claim 4, wherein said runway is undulatory.

7. A rotary stand according to claim 3, wherein said rotor is supported by wheels on a generally horizontal portion of said track and is centered by rollers engaging a generally vertical portion of said track.

8. A rotary stand according to claim 3, wherein said conductor ring armature is disposed horizontally and at a short distance from said track, whereby changes in the rotor diameter due to expansion phenomena have no effect on the gap between said armature and inductor.

9. A rotary stand according to claim 7, wherein said rotor comprises an annular frame supporting said armature ring and has secured thereto brackets each supported by one said wheel and carrying one said roller, said frame also supporting protruding members constituting said radially disposed means.

10. A rotary stand according to claim 4, wherein said protruding members comprise fork joints for hinged coupling with said carriages.

l l. A rotary stand according to claim 4, wherein both said track and said runway are supported atleast partially by spaced posts.

12. A rotary stand according to claim 2, wherein said runway is planar.

13. A rotary stand according to claim 2, wherein said runway is undulatory. 

1. A rotary stand comprising: a circular track; an electromagnet inductor disposed in fixed relation to said track; a circular rotor rotatably mounted on said track; radially disposed means on said rotor for moving workpieces through a circular path, and an electrical conductor ring fixed with said rotor and disposed to constitute an armature for said inductor to rotate said motor.
 2. A rotary stand according to claim 1, comprising: an annular runway disposed concentrically around said track, and carriages for workpieces revolvably mounted on said runway and connected with said radially disposed means.
 3. A rotary stand according to claim 1, wherein: said track and said rotor are annular so that the surrounded area is free of obstructions.
 4. A rotary stand according to claim 3, comprising: an annular runway disposed concentrically around said track, and carriages for workpieces revolvably mounted on said runway and connected with said radially disposed means.
 5. A rotary stand according to claim 4, wherein said runway is planar.
 6. A rotary stand according to claim 4, wherein said runway is undulatory.
 7. A rotary stand according to claim 3, wherein said rotor is supported by wheels on a generally horizontal portion of said track and is centered by rollers engaging a generally vertical portion of said track.
 8. A rotary stand according to claim 3, wherein said conductor ring armature is disposed horizontally and at a short distance from said track, whereby changes in the rotor diameter due to expansion phenomena have no effect on the gap between said armature and inductor.
 9. A rotary stand according to claim 7, wherein said rotor compriSes an annular frame supporting said armature ring and has secured thereto brackets each supported by one said wheel and carrying one said roller, said frame also supporting protruding members constituting said radially disposed means.
 10. A rotary stand according to claim 4, wherein said protruding members comprise fork joints for hinged coupling with said carriages.
 11. A rotary stand according to claim 4, wherein both said track and said runway are supported at least partially by spaced posts.
 12. A rotary stand according to claim 2, wherein said runway is planar.
 13. A rotary stand according to claim 2, wherein said runway is undulatory. 